Liverpool-based theatre company, What We Did Next (WWDN), performs a Rogers and Hammerstein classic, Carousel, at the Unity Theatre Between Wednesday 4th and June 7th. Carousel, voted Time magazine’s best musical of the 20th century, was the second to be written by well-known duo Richard Rogers (book and lyrics) and Oscar Hammerstein II (music).
The story centres around Billy Bigelow, a carefree carousel barker, whose romance with naïve millworker, Julie Jordan, comes at a price. Billy is coerced into assisting a robbery to provide for his unborn child, however things do not quite go to plan. Billy then finds himself in the unlikely position of being given a chance to put things right and we see him encounter his daughter for the first time.
The show includes the well-known song, If I Loved You as well as the original version of You’ll Never Walk Alone, sung to Julie, giving her the resolve to keep going through the hardest times.
The director, Shaun Holdom-Eyles, has decided to take a stripped-back approach to a show whose darker themes can often be overshadowed by elaborate choices of set, costume and orchestration. Mr. Holdom-Eyles said,“The two pianos version we have chosen to present allows the raw storyline and beautiful melodies to shine through, without losing the show’s heart.”
What We Did Next has become known in Liverpool for both reviving classic shows and for introducing audiences to modern musical theatre pieces. Previous musical productions include: Company, Into the Woods, Rent, The Last 5 Years, Spring Awakening and Bat Boy.
Tickets for Carousel are on sale from the Unity Theatre Box office, by telephone on 0844 8732888 or via the website www.unitytheatre.liverpool.co.uk. Tickets are priced at £10 and £12 with concessions available at £8 and £10.